Ah’ in also being a brian, one must consider what one companie’s training and
SOP for what an employee will do will be in the end as compared to that of another company. I don’t know of many other lighting companies for instance that would spend five minutes for instance in re-surfacing a totally arched out P-28s
Fresnel lamp
base as opposed to replacing it. This or spend the time in improving in a design for a
fixture as opposed to just doing a repair up to factory specs. but that's what clients come to see me for. What is it that you do (as employee and representive for it) for the client that is more worth them coming to your venu than that of the one down the street again? That's in a way what they are paying any wage for no matter what you get paid in otherwise being laid off in not employeed or not hired again next year. Your job - to make the client happy no matter what they are charged or what you get paid. As an absolute not what their contract says they are paying you - who signs your pay check, the client or the venu? Who than is that you represent in all ways including if any profit keeping it ethical in retaining that some stuff you don't speak of but make the client believe they get what they pay for.
Yes, name for oneself is in part a screwing of wasting money, but also something earned due to higher standards and trust built up. Your theater as opposed to renting from another, what do you offer in quality of production the other does not in making even charging for your over time worth it?
You while not always get what you pay for - do get what you pay for. Irrespective of money one in reality gets payed, in me also billing clients for my time also charge a rate for my services, the value of me spending time on something is worth it to a client. Is the after hours work you spend worth it to your clients also?
That service you provide is what you get paid for in your salary contract. I admit I get paid well in salary and even bonuses above what others will never see. Such salary and bonuses are to be kept secret of course to fellow employees just as my actual pay or even being salary in making money perhaps on a clent is also to be absolute different than what is charged. It’s less than what I might make hourly but compensating sufficiently to keep me as recognized by them to be of value and funded. For the contract, my overtime also means the shop lights stay on longer, the
power to my radio stays on a little longer, the parts I use in doing things up to my
level cost a little more and in general even if my premium bench time wage is not changed, it’s this time I’m working on this project as opposed to others is still costing the company money. Those other projects I'm not working on, on the other
hand are costing the shop money given I'm not spending premium paid time on them and instead still doing them - just doing them when not funded.
Overtime is not just what you work in hours, it’s what you cost the company even if your time is static in accounting fees, rush fees, and operating and parts costs.
Is what time you have to work late also reflected in the bill for above and beyond the
call that place you work has to operate in paying for it’s extra parts and hours of operation? Does the air conditioning or heat shut off after working hours? Do the makeup mirror lights turn off after normal working hours? Where otherwise does paying for this come form? Where does that next toy cool thing you want get paid for also from?
You in my view
point are contract. What you set up in being paid for your labor given this contract has no
reflection by way of ethics in what the customer is charged in you being by way of accounting to pay you to be there is charged. I highly doubt you are there without the
stage lighting being on, yet is the customer charged for after hours usage of the lighting bill?
As only opinion, you have to get over the ethics of what you are paid verses what the customer is charged by way of what the bean counters charge. Two seperate issues in what you feel fair rate for your labor no matter the hours if salary, and that of what it costs the customer.
Certainly as any tech person do your best to do your job especially while on premium time even if not paid as such but in the end what the customer is willing to pay is just business. Just as when I
play sales person I mostly do a 1.3% markup, at times I will lower it or in being fair to where I work will go up to a 100% markup based upon real costs or pain in my rear factor. It’s reality in doing business and in being a representive of the place I work. Nothing against such charges to the customer, just reality and necessity and 99.9% of all customers would understand business necessities.
I believe that you more need to understand that beyond your lack of pay the actual operating costs of being able to afford your wage in less feeling bad or wanting a greater percentage than you have at this
point an understanding for. Sure it’s probable that you are getting screwed for wages - just as with your customers, it’s nothing personal, just business.
You run out of cable clips, where do more come from? Operating costs and budget? The light board goes down one final time, where does it's replacement come from? Often rental costs are kept market share and low ball. Those renters who less search for a quality place to do a production than for a place that's cheap won't allow such funding of the whole place really needed accounting wise sufficient to rent the place. They will be willing to pay for help to their lost production over time. Such overtime for you makes up for the actual operating costs. Such is your lot as not just tech person now screwed by contract you signed, you are also a business representitive both in giving your all yet also standing by what is needed to keep the place that you represent and needs all cash it can get to keep you employed. That extra money you did not represent in your contract means a new
Nicopress tool next year or a few more Lekos. This especially if non-for profit. Money don't
line anyone's pockets, it pays bills and gets you what you want.
Do your job, don't worry about what you negotiate in being hones. Instead welcome to the world of representing were you work and hoping instead this show earns enough money to keep you other than laid off next year or for some important improvement now funded that you need.
Now from what I see you are a tech person. You are waking up to reality but need to learn into the reality part of what’s going on at this
point. Nope, you will never see what you are charged for. There is lots of business reasons for this even the more informed clients would understand.